Fluid compressor



Mamch 311 NEW m. H. MEPER ET AL, gwfiymgg V FLUID COMPRESSOR Filed June28, 1934 2, Sheets-Sheet l mmvmmes Mmwh m M36. (D. H. PKEIPER ET AL K WFL UID COMPRESSOR Filed June 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 31,193.6

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 28, 1934, Serial No.732,846

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to fluid com-v pressing means and has forits object to provide a compact and simplified compressor unit which canbe economically constructed and operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined fluid holdingtank and compressor unit constructed in a manner to insure quiet andefficient operation and one which comprises relatively few parts capableof being readily assembled and conditioned for operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting orbracket for the motor and compressor, comprising a compact andrelatively strong supporting unit by which the motor and the compressorare brought close together and one afiording a certain degree offlexibility and adapted to prevent any substantial transmission of thevibrations set up by the operation of the motor and compressor to thetank on which the bracket is mounted.

A further object is to provide improved resilient supporting meansbetween the bracket and the tank. designed to absorb the shocks andvibrations incident to the movements of the several operating parts ofthe compressor unit.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a tank and a casing thereon containingapparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the casing showing the fluidcompressor and supporting and operating parts therefor superimposed uponthe tank;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the motor and compressor as viewed fromthe right of Fig. 2 with the casing removed;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the compressor unit with the casing shownin section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation through one of the resilientmountings of the unit interposed between the latter and the fluidreceiving tank, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the compressor and motor carryingbracket.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The present invention relates to a fluid compressor unit designedparticularly for use by the dental profession, and constructed in amanner to insure efiicient service and extreme quietness in operationhrough the provision of means by which elimination of the effect ofvibration in the various parts of the apparatus is afforded.

Generally, the present structure comprises a fluid holding tank havingan electric motor and a fluid compressor superimposed thereon, withresilient means interposed between the tank and the compressor unit, thelatter having automatic means for stopping the motor controlled by thepressure within the tank.

Referring to the drawings, l0 designates a tank or reservoir adapted forreceiving and containing the compressed air or fluid, the tank beingconnected with the pump or compressor l I by means of pipes I2 and I3and the air filter I4 interposed on said pipes, the pump intake beingindicated at l5.

The electric motor for operating the compressor is designated by thereference character i6 and is adapted to drive the belt I1 for operatingthe pulley l8 fixed on the drive shaft l8a of the compressor.

The electric switch for breaking the motor circuit to stop the motorwhen a predetermined pressure is built up within the tank, is enclosedwithin a casing l9 containing pressure responsive means for opening theswitch, the casing communicating with the pressure line through anextension 20 of the air filter M as described hereinafter.

It will be understood that the compressor, the motor, and the pressureoperated switch mechanism may be of any preferred or well known type andthat the switch mechanism or its control means can be adjusted to afforddifferent degrees of pressure within the tank from time to time as maybe desired.

The motor and compressor are carried by an improved supporting structuresuch as the unitary mounting bracket designated generally by thereference character 2| and best illustrated in Fig. 6. The bracketcomprises a base 22 having an upstanding support thereon comprising theside plates 23 which are preferably curved inwardly at their upper endsand connected by a transverse plate 24 overlying the base. Theupstanding support is in the form of an inverted U-shaped member, theends of which are preferably connected with the base 22 by turning upflange-like portions 25 at two sides of the base and securing said endsthereon in any suitable manner, as for example, by spot welding.

The transverse portion 24 of the U-shaped support is provided with anoverlying plate 26, preferably secured thereon by spot welding andhaving holes 21 alined with corresponding holes in the plate 24, notshown, of the U-shaped support. The compressor is superimposed upon theplate 26 and is secured thereon by the bolts 28 extending through lugson the base of the compressor and through the holes 21 whereby to firmlysecure the compressor upon the bracket.

The plate 26 is provided with an apertured extension 2 9 forming asupport for the motor switch casing I9 and the air filter l4, the latterhaving its outlet portion 20 extending through the opening 30 of theextension and threaded within the depending portion 19a of the switchholding casing I9. A nut 3| serves to clamp the air filter I4 and theswitch casing 19 upon the extension 29 of the bracket, as shown in Fig.3.

The motor is supported within the inverted U- shaped support 2! beneaththe compressor and in overlying relation with respect to the base, by asaddle 32 preferably secured to the motor by spot welding. The saddle isseated upon the base and is secured thereon by the bolts 33 extendingthrough the holes 34 of the base, Figs. 3 and 6.

The base is provided with foot-like portions or extensions 35 arrangedin pairs at opposite sides of the U-shaped supporting member and each ofwhich has an opening 36 therein, as shown in Fig. 6. The openings areprovided to permit the upper and lower portions 31 and 38 of the rubberor rubber-like mountings to contact one with another, as indicated inFig. 5, as well as to provide clearance for the screws 39 extendingthrough the resilient mountings. Bearing plates 40 on which themountings are seated are carried by the rigid upstanding lugs M on thedepressed portions 42 of the head of the tank in, Figs. 2 and 5, whichmay be welded or otherwise secured on the tank. With this arrangementthere are no metal parts directly connecting the base plate 22 with thelugs M of the tank, so that the eflective transmission of any vibrationsfrom the base plate to the tank, due to the operation of the compressorunit, is avoided by the yieldable rubber or rubber-like mountingsinterposed between the tank and the base plate. By tightening the screws39, the rubber mountings are firmly clamped upon the lugs 41 of thetank. The base plate 22 is spaced from the walls of the tank at allpoints and from any metal parts connected therewith, thus avoiding thesetting up of vibrations in the tank structure and the objectionablenoises which would result from the same.

Furthermore, the supporting bracket H is constructed in such a manner asto afford a certain degree of resiliency or flexibility whereby it willbetter absorb the vibrations incident to the operation of the motor andthe compressor. This is true for the reason that the bracket isconstructed of relatively thin and somewhat flexible sheet materialwhich will yield to a certain extent under pressure of the operatingparts carried thereby.

The cushioning effect of the bracket is further enhanced by theparticular construction shown, embodying the narrow foot-like extensions35 of the base which are capable of being flexed under pressure, thesame being true of the relatively thin upstanding side plates 23 of thebracket carrying the weight of the compressor and yielding slightlyunder the load thereof during operation of the unit.

Moreover the construction of the bracket is such as to provide for acompact arrangement of the operating parts of the unit since it permitsthe motor and the compressor to be positioned relatively close togetherand also permits the unit to be mounted on and relatively close to thefluid holding tank, thereby reducing the overall length of theapparatus.

The plate 26 of the bracket is provided with an outwardly extendingdownwardly bent lug 43 adapted to receive a bolt 44 pivotally supportingan arm 45 having an idler 46 thereon for tensioning the belt l'l, underthe pressure exerted upon the arm by the spring 41, Figs. 2 and 3.

The base 22 is provided with a. laterally extending arm 48 securedthereon, preferably by spot welding, the arm being provided with athimble 49 for receiving and supporting the cord 50 containing the wiresor connections for supplying current to the motor, the cord beingextended through an opening 5| in the casing or cover 52 for thecompressor unit. The casing includes a dome-like portion 53, in thecenter of which is secured a ring 54 formed of rubber or other suitablematerial. A guide rod 55 is extended upwardly from the fluid compressorand projects through the ring, as shown in Fig. 2, the opening of thering surrounding the rod affording a passage for the supply of air forthe intake l5 of the compressor. The rod is adapted to facilitate thecentering of the cover for the compressor unit on the tank HI, the coverbeing secured in position by any suitable means, not shown, and servingto deaden any vibrations or noises which may result from the operationof the motor and compressor.

It will be understood that the term rubber or rubber-like materialemployed herein is used in a relatively broad sense and is intended tocover natural or synthetic rubber or similar material capable of use asa resilient supporting means for the compressor unit.

We claim:

1. In fluid compressing means, a tank for receiving the compressedfluid, a unitary bracket overlying the tank, a fluid compressor carriedby the bracket for supplying the tank, a motor mounted on the bracketindependently of the compressor and operatively connected with thecompressor, a plurality of mounting members having their upper endsseated on the bracket each comprising a body of relatively soft,resilient material, upstanding supporting parts on the tank formingseats for the lower ends of said mounting members, the latter formingcushioning means for the bracket and the parts carried thereby, andmeans connecting the mounting members with said upstanding supportingparts.

2. In fluid compressing means, a tank for receiving the compressedfluid, a unitary supporting structure overlying the tank, a fluidcompressor carried by the supporting structure for supplying the tank, aplurality of rubber mounting members having portions seated on thesupporting structure and forming resilient supporting means therefor,supporting parts on the tank forming seats for said mounting members,and securing devices for said mounting members extending therethroughand connecting said members with said supporting parts, said securingdevices being spaced from the supporting structure.

3. In fluid compressing means, a tank for receiving the compressedfluid, a unitary supporting bracket overlying the tank, comprising abase plate provided with extended foot-like portions having openingstherein, said base plate having an inverted U-shaped support extendingupwardly therefrom, a compressor superimposed upon said U-shaped support'for supplying the tank,

a motor supported by the base plate within said inverted U-shapedsupport and operatively connected with the compressor, a plurality ofrubber mounting members interposed between the tank and said extendedfoot-like portions of the base plate, said mounting members beingsupported by the tank and extending into engagement with said foot-likeportions and in registry with the openings therein, and securing devicesfor the mounting members extending therethrough in spaced relation tosaid foot-like portions and connecting said members with the tank.

4. In fluid compressing means, a tank for receiving the compressedfluid, a unitary supporting. bracket overlying the tank comprising abase plate provided with extended foot-like portions having openingstherein, said'bracket adapted to support a compressor and a motor foroperating the compressor, a plurality of rubber mounting membersinterposed between the tank and said extended foot-like portions of thebracket, said mounting members being supported by the tank and extendinginto engagement with said footlike portions and in registry with theopenings thereof, and securing devices for the mounting membersextending therethrough in spaced relation to said foot-like portions andserving to connect said mounting members with the tank.

5. In fluid compressing means, a unitary bracket for supporting a fluidcompressor unit in superimposed relation upon a tank for receiving thecompressed fluid, said bracket including a base plate having anupstanding support thereon, said base plate having foot-like extensionsprovided with openings, a pluralitycf rubber mounting members dependingfrom said foot-like portions in registering relation with respect to theopenings, said mounting members being. adapted to be received andsupported by the tank, and securing devices for the mounting membersextending through said openings in spaced relation to said foot-likeextensions and through the mounting members and adapted to connect thelatter with the tank.

6. In fluid compressing means, a tank for receiving the compressedfluid, a unitary bracket including a base plate overlying the tank andadapted to support a compressor and a motor for driving the compressor,said base plate having a plurality of openings therein, a plurality ofrubber mounting members for the bracket each including parts disposed onopposite sides of the base plate in registry with one of the openingsthereof and in contact one with another, supporting parts on the tankforming seats for said mounting members, and means extending throughsaid mounting members into said supporting parts and connecting themounting members with the supporting parts.

7. A' supporting structure for a fluid compressor unit including acompressor and a motor for driving the compressor, comprising a unitarybracket having a base plate and supporting means thereon adapted for thereception of the compressor, said base plate being adapted to supportthe motor beneath the compressor, a

plurality of rubber mountings seated on the base plate and formingresilient supporting means for the bracket, said mountings eachincluding portions extending on opposite sides of the base plate, rigidsupporting elements forming seats for the mountings, and securingelements for the mountings extending therethrough and through the baseplate in spaced relation to the latter, and having their ends anchoredupon said supporting elements.

8. In fluid compressing means, the combination of a fluid holding tank,a flexible motor support, a flexible compressor support, a plurality ofmountings on the tank on which said supports are superimposed, each ofsaid mountings comprising a body of resilient material for absorbing anddissipating the vibrations of said supports, a motor on said firstmentioned support, a compressor on the second mentioned support inspaced relation to the motor, said compressor being connected with thetank for compressing fluid therein, and means operatively connecting themotor with the compressor.

9. In fluid compressing means, the combination of a fluid holding tank,a flexible motor support overlying the tank, mountings interposedbetween the tank and said support each comprising a body of resilientmaterial for absorbing and dissipating the vibrations of said support, aflexible compressor support connected with said motor support fortransmitting the vibrations of the compressor to said motor support andthrough the latter to said mountings, a motor on the first mentionedsupport, a compressor on the second mentioned support connected with thetank for compressing fluid therein, and a driving element operativelyconnecting the compressor with the motor.

10. In fluid compressing means, the combination of a fluid holding tankhaving spaced upstanding parts, a flexible motor support, a flexiblecompressor support, said supports being superimposed one upon another,mountings interposed between said upstanding tank parts and one of saidsupports each comprising a body of resilient material for absorbing anddissipating the vibrations of said supports, a motor on one of saidsupports, a compressor on the other support having a discharge conduitconnected with the tank, and means operatively connecting the motor withthe compressor.

11. In fluid compressing means, the combina-

